Better Edmonton is a municipal political party in Edmonton, Alberta, founded ahead of the city's 2025 municipal election. It was founded by former city councillor Tim Cartmell. The only party on council, it is represented by Karen Principe.
History On November 21, 2024, Edmonton city councillor Tim Cartmell announced that he would be running for mayor in 2025, and would be launching a municipal political party.
On May 1, 2025, Cartmell announced the formation of Better Edmonton. On May 28, the party officially registered with Edmonton Elections.
On June 3, Better Edmonton announced its slate of candidates, which included councillor Karen Principe, who joined the party.
In the 2025 municipal election on October 20, the party won 3 council seats and Cartmell lost the mayoral race. The councillors were sworn into office on October 29.
On November 10, 2025, less than a month after the municipal election, councillor Reed Clarke left the party to sit as an independent. Three days later, councillor Michael Elliott also left the party and became an independent. The next day, leader Tim Cartmell left the party.
Election results Mayoral election Election Candidate Votes % Status Result 2025 Tim Cartmell 61,668 29.83 2nd
City council Election City council seats +/– Position Result 2025 3 2nd
Better Edmonton councillors Current CouncillorWardTenureNotesKaren PrincipetastawiyiniwakOctober 29, 2025—presentIndependent councillor from 2021 to 2025.
Former CouncillorWardTenureNotesReed ClarkeNakota IsgaOctober 29, 2025—November 10, 2025Left party to sit as an independent.Michael ElliottpihêsiwinOctober 29, 2025—November 13, 2025Left party to sit as an independent.
Party leaders # Party Leader Tenure1Tim Cartmell May 1, 2025 – November 14, 2025
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